Since Lost Palms Brewing Co. opened its striking Miami brewery in the latter half of 2017, it has built its reputation by zigging when everyone else was zagging. First, the team pivoted away from the trend of dark, masculine brewery aesthetics by opting for a vibrant, eye-catching and contemporary colour scheme for its flagship’s interior. It also circumvented craft-beer’s reputation as an intimidating niche choice by expanding its selection to feature inclusive sips for non-beer drinkers (Lost Palms was the first Gold Coast brewery to add a sour to its core range, and its selzter pre-dates the drink’s current wave by almost a year). This year, the far-sighted froth mongers are bucking convention by not only opening a new venue (not an easy task in 2020), but placing it in an unexpected location. Last week the team put the finishing touches in place on its first Brisbane-based locale – a new Lost Palms taproom situated in the heart of Sherwood. Instead of opting for a space closer to the inner city, the team sought to establish an approachable touchpoint that gave suburban sippers easier access to craft-style options while still appealing to the broader community. The 100-sqm building (located on Sherwood Road’s bustling retail strip), once housed Asian-inspired restaurant Sweet n Spice, and offered the kind of infrastructure (an alfresco area, a sizeable kitchen and some spacious cold rooms) needed to create a casual drinkery that neatly filled a glaring hole in the suburb’s hospitality landscape. A refurbishment effort has given the building a striking makeover in line with its Miami sibling, with millennial-pink walls and neon helping position the bar as an oasis of escapism.

Those that are yet to sample Lost Palms’ range of thirst-quenching suds will be in for a real treat at the Sherwood taproom. All 11 taps have been given over to the brewery’s core range, single-keg and small-batch releases, and forthcoming collaborative brews. Headline sips include the low-carb and low-gluten lager-style Gold Coast Bitter, a crisp and clean XPA, the fruity and sessionable 300 Days of Sunshine summer ale, the bright and tropical hibiscus-and-guava sour ale, and the refreshing gluten-free peach seltzer. Exclusive to Lost Palms Sherwood is a range of beer-infused cocktails, including an espresso martini on tap (boasting cold-brew coffee and coffee liqueurs that have been spiked with porter and house secret spirits) and a tropical mojito (Dead Man’s Fingers coconut rum blended with Lost Palms’ hibiscus-and-guava sour). Expect other experimental concoctions – like a margarita sour – to feature as well. A curated wine list features a range of new-wave varieties, while a small selection of spirits helps round out the beverage offering nicely. Lost Palms Sherwood’s food offering has been kept purposefully simple, contrasting the sizeable drinks selection with a streamlined menu consisting of three burgers (an OG beef, Nashville-style chicken and panko mushroom) and snacks including buttermilk chicken tenders, mac ‘n’ cheese sticks, loaded fries with bacon, cheese and gravy, and panko-crumbed mushroom bites. The menu will gradually introduce some beer-infused specials down the line – think along the lines of mouth-watering porter-braised brisket.

Lost Palms’ Sherwood taphouse is now open to the public. Be sure to check out the Stumble Guide for operating hours and other important details.